Dec. 3, 2008

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Western Washington University middle blocker Angie Alvord (Sr., Laurel/Meridian) was a first-team selection and libero Allison Gotz (So., Bothell/Archbishop Murphy) received honorable mention on the 2008 American Volleyball Coaches Association NCAA Division II All-American team announced today.

"This is a great honor for Angie and a well-deserved one as well," said Western coach Diane Flick. "Angie put forth an All-American effort every night she competed, but what makes her such a special player is that she was an All-American everyday in practice."

Alvord is the first middle blocker in school history to earn first-team All-America recognition. She is just the third Viking player named a first-team AVCA All-American and the fifth overall to receive first-team All-America honors.

Libero Courtney Schneider was a first-team AVCA pick in 2007 and setter Liz Bishop in 2002. Libero Nicola Parker was a first-team Daktronics NCAA II choice in 2003, and outside hitter Lorrie Post was a first-team NAIA All-American in 1990.

Alvord led Western in blocks (81) for the third consecutive year, becoming just the third player in school history to perform that feat. She also paced the team in kills (335), attack percentage (.320) and aces (49).

The league leader in service aces (0.54), Alvord ranked second in hitting percentage (.320) and points (4.78), fourth in kills (3.68) and seventh in blocks (0.89).

Alvord finished her four-year career tied for fifth among school leaders in aces (155). She was seventh in attack percentage (.299), eighth in blocks (360) and 13th in kills (860). Alvord also was named to both the first-team AVCA and Daktronics West Region squads and received 2008 Great Northwest Athletic Conference Player of the Year recognition. Gotz ranked third nationally in digs (561, 6.10) and led the GNAC. She was a second-team Daktronics West Region and GNAC all-star and received AVCA West Region honorable mention.

"Allie is keeping up with the libero legacy here at Western," Flick said. "This is only her sophomore campaign and with her potential and work ethic, there is only more great things to come for her in the next two years."

The Vikings finished 21-3, were ranked as high as No.3 nationally, and placed second in the league standings at 13-3.

2008 AVCA ALL-AMERICA TEAMS ANNOUNCED FOR NCAA DIVISION II WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL

LEXINGTON, Ky. - The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) is proud to announce the 28th annual AVCA All-America teams for NCAA Division II women's volleyball.

Concordia University-St. Paul setter Maggie McNamara and California State University, San Bernardino right side/opposite Jessica Granados are the only repeat First-Team selections from a year ago, with McNamara also nabbing Second-Team honors in 2006. Katie Gangelhoff of the University of Minnesota Duluth and Monica Miesner of Washburn University join McNamara as the only athletes to earn AVCA All-America honors three times - Gangelhoff was a Second-Team recipient in 2007 and a Third-Team honoree in 2006; Miesner earned Second-Team laurels in 2005 and 2007.

The 2008 All-America selections were made by the AVCA Division II All-America Committee: Laurie Lokash, Slippery Rock University, chairperson; Mario Andaya, Central Washington University; Christy Benner, Wheeling Jesuit University; Jim Boos, University of Minnesota Duluth; Todd Caughlin, St. Mary's University; Shelton Collier, Wingate University; Sandy Hoffman, Bentley College; Deanne Scanlon, Grand Valley State University; and Jill Stephens, Florida Southern College.

First-Team

Danielle Alexander&, Grand Valley State University, MB, Sr., 5-11, Newport, Michigan
Angie Alvord, Western Washington University, MB, Sr., 6-0, Laurel, Washington
Katie Gangelhoff%^, University of Minnesota Duluth, S, Sr., 5-8, South St. Paul, Minnesota
Jessica Granados*, California State Univ. San Bernardino, RS/Opp., Sr., 6-1, Beaumont, California
Sara Hoffman&, California State Univ. San Bernardino, S, Jr., 5-6, San Clemente, California
Linda Igbinigie, Pittsburg State University, MB, Sr., 6-4, Richardson, Texas
Ting Liu, Emporia State University, S, So., 6-1, Beijing, China
Maggie McNamara*^, Concordia University-St. Paul, S, Jr., 5-9, Zumbrota, Minnesota
Monica Miesner%!, Washburn University, OH, Sr., 5-11, Florissant, Missouri
Rhe-Ann Niles, University of New Haven, MB, Sr., 5-11, St. Thomas, Barbados
Emily Palkert, Concordia University-St. Paul, MB, So., 5-11, Excelsior, Minnesota
Laura Prinsen, West Texas A&M University, RS/Opp., Jr., 5-9, Spring, Texas
Melissa Vanderhall, University of Tampa, OH, So., 5-9, Hempstead, New York
Jeri Walkowiak, University of Nebraska-Kearney, MB, So., 5-11, Grand Island, Nebraska

Second-Team

Ludmila Amaral, California University of Pennsylvania, MB, Jr., 6-0, Sao Paulo, Brazil
Jamie Ashmore, Grand Valley State University, S, Sr., 5-9, LaPorte, Indiana
Rhea Cardwell, University of Alaska-Anchorage, OH, Sr., 5-10, Prineville, Oregon
Allie Cherven%, Truman State University, MB, Sr., 6-1, St. Charles, Missouri
Natalie Forbes, Northern Kentucky University, S, Sr., 5-9, Fort Thomas, Kentucky
Whitney Meierotto, Concordia University-St. Paul, OH, Sr., 5-8, Washburn, Wisconsin
Camilla Pagnan, Barry University, OH, Sr., 5-10, Morra da Fumaca, Brazil
Valia Petrova, Nova Southeastern University, S, Sr., 5-10, Sofia, Bulgaria
Luciana Rapach&, The University of West Florida, RS/Opp., Sr., 5-9, Porto Alegre, Brazil
Whitney Sanders	University of North Alabama, MB, Sr., 6-1, Haleyville, Alabama
Mary Slinger, Concordia University-St. Paul, DS/Lib., Jr., 5-8, Faribault, Minnesota
Maria Steinhagen&, Concordia University-St. Paul, MB, Sr., 5-10, Alexandria, Minnesota
Vanessa Williams, Cal Poly Pomona, MB, Sr., 6-1, Riverside, California
Sarah Wyffels, University of Minnesota Duluth, MB, Jr., 5-10, Marshall, Minnesota

Third-Team

Rebecca Bailey, University of California, San Diego, OH, Sr., 5-9, Escondido, California
Gabriela Bulawcyzk, California State Univ., Los Angeles, OH, Jr., 6-1, Sulechow, Poland
Pamela Cartagena%, Pittsburg State University, OH, Jr., 5-7, Bayamon, Puerto Rico
Renata da Silva&, California University of Pennsylvania, S, Jr., 5-8, Sao Paulo, Brazil
Danielle Higginbotham, Florida Southern College, MB, Sr., 6-1, Tallahassee, Florida
Jessica Howe, Regis University, OH, So., 6-0, Pueblo, Colorado
Kasey Loeslie, Southwest Minnesota State Univ., MB, Sr., 6-1, Tracy, Minnesota
Eli Medina, Truman State University, OH, Sr., 5-8, Kansas City, Missouri
Ashley Nachreiner, Minnesota State University, OH, Sr., 5-11, Round Rock, Texas
Michelle Nogueras, Saint Leo University, S, Jr.	5-8, Cayey, Puerto Rico
Melissa Powers, Catawba College, MB, Sr., 5-10, Bennett, North Carolina
Arica Shepard, Emporia State University, OH, Jr., 5-9, Rossville, Kansas
Andrea Tuck, Adams State College, OH, Jr., 6-0, Erie, Colorado
Sammie Williams&, Pittsburg State University, RS/Opp., Sr., 6-1, Blue Springs, Missouri

* indicates 2007 AVCA First-Team All-America selection
% indicates 2007 AVCA Second-Team All-America selection
& indicates 2007 AVCA Third-Team All-America selection
$ indicates 2006 AVCA First-Team All-America selection
^ indicates 2006 AVCA Second-Team All-America selection
@ indicates 2006 AVCA Third-Team All-America selection
! indicates 2005 AVCA Second-Team All-America selection

Honorable Mention

Stacey Bennet (Western Oregon, OH, Sr.)
Stacey Borgia (Lock Haven, MB, Sr.)
Erica Brick (Chico State, S, Sr.)
Emily Carle (Nova Southeastern, MB, Sr.)
Molly Cindric (Merrimack, RS/Opp., So.)
Charisse Cotton (New Haven, OH, Sr.)
Devin Deidrich (Southwest Minnesota State, MB, Fr.)
Cammy Dranginis (Northwest Nazarene, MB, Jr.)
Danielle Durham (Florida Southern, OH, Sr.)
Stormi Gale (Wingate, MB, So.)
Madeline Gonzalez (West Florida, S, Sr.)
Sarha Gosselin (Wayne State [Mich.], OH, Jr.)
Allison Gotz (Western Washington, DS/Lib., So.)
April Hansen (Minnesota Duluth, RS/Opp., R-Fr.)
Jessica Hansen (North Alabama, DS/Lib., Sr.)
Melissa Harper (West Texas A&M, MB, Jr.)
Meghan Hass (Cal State San Bernardino, DS/Lib., Sr.)
Allie Huffman (Central Missouri, OH, Fr.)
Jen Jung (Michigan Tech, MB, Sr.)
Melissa Keck (Truman, RS/Opp., Sr.)
Sadie Kessler (Concordia-St. Paul, RS/Opp., Jr.)
Kim Kvapil (Incarnate Word, OH, Sr.)
Camila Lins (Lynn, OH, Sr.)
Danielle McDonald (Tampa, MB, Sr.)
Kaitlin McKenna (Saint Leo, MB, So.)
Josimara Pinheiro (Hawai'i-Hilo, OH, Jr.)
Maja Potpara (Dowling, S, Fr.)
Sarah Redoute (Saginaw Valley State, OH, Sr.)
Sara Rice (Cal State San Bernardino, MB, Sr.)
Katie Rickwartz (West Texas A&M, S, Jr.)
Beth Robbins (Indianapolis, S, Sr.)
Daris Rodriguez (Lynn, MB, Sr.)
Yael Rosner (New Haven, S, Sr.)
Kristi Sather (Sonoma State, OH, Sr.)
Nikki Scott (Nebraska-Kearney, MB, Jr,)
Fabiane Seben (Hawai'i-Hilo, MB, Jr.)
Hannah Segebart (Armstrong Atlantic, S, So.)
Cola Svec (Nebraska-Kearney, S, So.)
Kyleigh Turner (Indianapolis, DS/Lib., Jr.)
Brandie Vea (Central Washington, DS/Lib., So.)
Ursula Vieira (Cal State L.A., RS/Opp., Sr.)
Kelsey Wesaw (Northern Kentucky, RS/Opp., Sr.)